What Is Wallenbergs Syndrome?
Some people with Wallenbergs syndrome have difficulty balancing while walking because they feel like the world is tilting.
Wallenbergs syndrome, also called lateral medullary syndrome or Wallenberg syndrome, is a neurological condition that can develop when damage occurs in a part of the brainstem called the lateral medulla.
When one of the arteries of the brainstem is blocked, oxygenated blood can't get to the brain, and a stroke can occur.
If this happens, you may experience problems with muscle function and sensations throughout your body.
Wallenbergs syndrome is considered a rare disorder, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.
Symptoms of Wallenbergs Syndrome
The most common symptom people with Wallenberg's syndrome have is difficulty swallowing.
Other symptoms may include the following:
- Hoarseness
- Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
- Rapid involuntary eye movements
- Difficulty with balance and gait coordination
- Problems with body temperature sensation
- Lack of pain and temperature sensation on one side of the face, or different symptoms on each side of the body
- Uncontrollable hiccups
- Loss of taste on one side of the tongue
- Decreased sweating
- Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
Additionally, some people with Wallenbergs syndrome have difficulty balancing while walking because they feel like the world is tilting.
Depending on how severe the damage to the brainstem is, some people may feel relief from symptoms within weeks or months.
Others, however, may experience major neurological disabilities for years.
Causes of Wallenbergs Syndrome
Its not known what initially causes Wallenbergs syndrome.
However, some researchers have found a connection between people who have the syndrome and who have peripheral artery disease, heart disease, blood clots, or minor neck trauma.
Diagnosis of Wallenbergs Syndrome
If your doctor thinks you may have Wallenbergs syndrome, he or she may order a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify if there is a block in the artery near the lateral medulla.
Treatment of Wallenbergs Syndrome
Since there is no cure for Wallenbergs syndrome, treatment usually involves relieving the symptoms a person is experiencing, which may include the following:
- A feeding tube to help with swallowing complications
- Speech and/or swallowing therapy to help with talking and swallowing
- Medication to help alleviate pain, such as the anti-epileptic drug gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Blood thinner medication, such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin), to help reduce or dissolve the blockage in the artery
- Rarely, and only in extreme cases, surgery may be an option to remove the clot
Sources:
- Wallenberg's Syndrome Information Page; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
- Aydogdu , Ibrahim, et al. Dysphagia in Lateral Medullary Infarction (Wallenbergs Syndrome); 2001. Stroke.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
